Fabric-tube-opening device.



B. A. PARKES.

FABRIC TUBE OPENING DEVICE. APPLICATION FILED JULYB. ma.

Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

B. A. PARKES.

FABRIC TUBE OPENING DE VTCE. APPLICATION man JULY 8. 191a.

Patented June 1, 1915.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2- be moregrea lv NED ST A1535 5 rena orrion.

BERTRA'ND A. PARKES, or BARB-EN HILL, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR r0 THE PHILA DELPHIA DRYING MACHINERY COMPANY, or PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA,

A CORPQRATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

FABRICHUBE-OPENING DEVICE.

Application filed July 8, 1913. Seria1 I To.777,822.

. dyeing, the fabrio becon ies twisted and 'tan gled, and it is necessary to take the twist and tangle outfoi: the fabric with the least possiblerfriction beforedrying. V v The invention relates more particularly to devices which'are ,ipted to enter a tube of fabricoii, U oveiikind, as itis fed to a drying appa ttu for? the purpose of separating and fhe tube so that it may I an object," invention is to provide i p 1 iing d'evicdkwhich is so constructed astoengage;theaniner walls-of the tube, and separatethef same, which device is also prov ided" withnneans whereby said device may be-supportedjand held from movement with the tube being opened.

Itfurtherbbject of the invention is to. provide a 'supporting means for a fabric tube opening device, which supporting means may be in connection with a plurality of opening devices and is so constructout interfering with the operation of the other opening device. 7

A further object of the invention is to provide a dryingapparatus with a supporting device for opening the tube of the fabric, which is so disposed and arranged that the fabric tube may untwist as it passes over the tube opening device and be fed in a flat open condition through the drier.

These and other objects will in part be obvious, and will in part be hereinafter more fully described. v

In the drawings, whichshow by way of illustration one. embodiment of the invention. Figure I is aside view of a drying ap- Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented June 1, 1915.

paratus showing a fabric tube passing through the same, and my improved opening and untwisting device operating within the tube; Fig. II is an enlarged view, showing an edge view of the opening and untwisting device; Fig. III is a side view of the same.

Prior to my invention it hasbeen customary to place inside of a tube, asit passes to a drying machine, a separating and spreading device for opening the tube. These opening devices, so far as I amaware, have been supported entirely by the frictional contact between the device and the tube operated upon. The present invention contemplates the provision of means for sup porting the opening device and for holding the same from travel with the tube being opened. To this end the spreading device is provided with a central head, from which depends a rod carrying separating rollers, which rollers separate the inner walls of the tube, one from another, as the tube passes over the same. Adjacent the separating rollers are outwardly projecting spring arms which further tend to separate the walls ofrthe tube one from another. The separating and untwisting device also includes further spreading arms which are held under spring tension against the walls of the tube, and which tendv to deliver the tube in a flat condition to the feed rollers of 5 the drying apparatus. The tube is led to the drying apparatus upwardly in a vertical direction, and there is a considerable distance between the separating and untwisting device and the pile from which the tube is led, which gives the fabric tube an opportunity to untwist as it is led on to the separating and spreading device. The separating and spreading device is also provided with rolls which are spaced and which cooperate with supporting rollers so that the tube may travel over the separating and spreading device, and said device held not only from turning, but also from longitudinal movement with the tube by the rollers, which rollers are located between the rolls carried by the head of the scparatin g and spreading device. I I r i Referring more in detail to the drawings, I have shown in Fig. I. a drying apparatus consisting generally of a drying chamber 1, from which projects a frame Air is circulated through the drying chamber by .means of a fan indicated by the circular broken line in Fig. I, as is customary in this type of apparatus. Mounted in suitable bearings in the frame 2 are feeding-in rollers 3 and 4. These rollers are positively driven, and the web or tube offabric 5, passes about the rollers, so as to be fed by the frictional contact of the fabric with the rolls. The

drying-apparatus consists also of an'endless carrier 6, shown in dotted lines in Fig. I, which supports the fabric to be dried, as is customary in this type of drier; The endless carrier 6 is providedwith spaced rods which move with the carrier and the loops of fabric to be dried are laid one after an otheron these rods. The rods as they pass through the drying chamber slide on suitable supporting bars, The fabric after leaving the drier may, if desired, be carried over suitable rollers to the receiving side of the drying apparatus, where it is led over feed rollers 7 and 8, and through a folding apparatus 9, which lays the fabric in a suitable pile. y

The details of the drying apparatus and the manner. of feeding the fabric thereto form no part of thepresent invention, and further description thereof will not be necessary.

The tube or fabric to be dried is preferably received through an opening 10, formed in the floor, adjacent the drier. The spreading device 11, is supported by two parallel.

spaced rollers 12 and 13. The spreading device 11 consists of a central supporting head 14. Extending laterally from the head are two bracket arms 15 and'16, each ofwhich carries a pair of rolls 17 and 18 respectively.

These rolls may be j ournaled on the bracket arms in any suitable way. The spreader head also carries bracket arms 19 and; 20,

which are provided with similar pairs of rolls 21 and 22. i

The separating and spreading device, as shown in detail in Figs. II and III, is also provided with adownwardly extending, rod

23, which isrigidly carried by the supporting head 14. At the lower end of said rod is a supporting bracket 24:, which carries four rolls 25, which are equally spaced and "mounted in arms projecting from the bracket 24. These. rolls are the entering rolls which first engage the tube and separate the walls one from another. They are closely associated with each other so that they may properly enter into-and open the tube, although the tube may be considerably twisted. Adjacent the bracket 2 1 and mounted on the rod 23 are two spring arms 26 and 27. These arms are inclined outwardly in an upward direction and the free ends of the arms are curvedas at128.' These armsand the bracket 24; are clamped to the rod 23 by suitable nuts 29. Also pivoted on the supporting head 14- are two arms 30 and 'lugsat one ends to a collar 36. This collar is adjustably' [secured tothe rod by a pin 37 which "port and control the spreading 31 As herein shown, each of these-arms is formed with a curved ring-shaped end 32. The arms are formed with intermeshlng gears 33, so that any movement imparted to one arm will be likewise imparted to the other. Each arm is provided with a lug 34: and springs 35,

end and attached at their other passes through the collar and one of the holes 38 in the rod. By adjusting the collar 36, the tension of the springs 35 may be varied.

In the operation led over the entering rolls of the spreading device and ispassed between the rolls 17, 18,

17 and 18L The rollers 12 and 13 are located in these spaces so that the spreading device will be supported through the restor tube5, to pass freely over the spreading device and-between theprollers 12 and 13, and the rolls 21 and 22. The rolls17 and 18 are beneath the rollers 12 and 13 and in case the tube should become unduly twisted orknotted'the spreading device would be lifted until these rolls 17 and 18 contact with the rollers 12 and 13, and further travel of the spreadingdevice with the tube will be prevented. In such a case, the feed rollers.

' operation and the tubes operated on thereby fed to the drier.

The rollers 12 and 13 extend across the entire front of the drying apparatus and are supported in suitable bearings at each end thereof- These rollers are adapted to supdevice for each tube which is being fed to the drier.

Suitable collars may be provided for holding the tubes spaced from each'other. By this construction, wherein the supporting rollers are located on the'frame adjacent the feeding-in rollers for the fabric, and the spreading device is supported and held in position by the rollers, ric to be spread is led up through an opening inthe floor, the tube passing to the spreading device is given ample range of movement, so that the twist in the tube may be taken from the fabric. w

I After the tube of fabric passes the entering rolls 25, it will pass over the yielding separating arms 28 and these arms will tend to'flatten out'the tube,.separating thewalls from each other, so that the tube will pass in a flat condition between the rollers 12 engaging the respective of my device the tube is 21 andv 22,v and the rollers. 12 and 13. The rolls 21 and 22 are spaced from the rolls ing of the rolls 21 and 22 on the rollers 12 and 13, and at the same time allow the web and the tubeoffab and 13. A further upward movement of the tube causes the same to pass over the yield-- ing arms and 31, which further spreads the tube and holds the same in a flat condition as it passes to the feed rollers of the drying apparatus. i

From the above description, it will be apparent that I have provided a drying apparatus which is adapted to receive a plurality of tubular fabrics for drying, fed thereto in an upward vertical direction, which drying apparatus includes frictional feeding-in rolls for conveying the tubes to the drying apparatus. The drying apparatus is also provided with a supporting frame on which are two rollers which are spaced and extend the entire width of the frame, and these rollers are adapted to support the spreading devices for the tubes and to prevent said spreading devices from traveling with the tubes. When a tube passes off from the spreading device, it will be supported by the rollers. Furthermore, if a tube should knot or stop, the feeding-in frictional rollers would merely slip on the tube and the remaining tubes would be carried to the drying apparatus. It is thought the manner of inserting the spreading devices in the tubes andthe starting of the tubes into the drying apparatus is obvious.

It will be obvious that minor changes in the details of construction and the arrangement of parts may be made Without departing from the" spirit of the invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim is:

1. A drying apparatus including feed rollers towhich a tube to be dried is dupwardly in a vertical direction, a tube opening and untwisting device adapted to engage and separate the inner wallsofthe J tube, said device having a central head, en-

tering rolls carried by said central'headfor engaging and initially opening the 'tube, and means independent of the tube for' sup porting said opening device in said tube and for preventing the same from travelingwith the tube.

2. A drying apparatus including feed rollers to which a tube to be dried is fed upwardly in a vertical direction, a tube opening and untwisting device adapted "to engage and separate the innen walls ofthegf; a central head, spaced rolls carried there y, entering'rollers' carried by said central head for engaging.

tube, said device havin and initially opening the tube, and rollers for engaging the outer face of the tube between the rolls on the central head for supporting the opening device and preventing the same from traveling with the tube.

3. A drying apparatus including feed rollers, to which a tube to bedried is fed a tube spaced. rolls carried thereby, entering rolls carried by said central head for initially opening the tube, and yielding arms adjacent said entering rolls for spreading the tube and rollers for engaging the outer face of the tube between the rolls on the central head for .supporting the opening device and preventing the same from traveling with the tube.

4. A fabric tube opening device comprising a supporting head, a depending rod carried thereby, openin rolls supported at the lower end of the ro for engaging and initially opening the mounted at the lower end of the rod and ex- I tending upwardly therefrom for engaging and separating the walls of the tube, and means carried by the central head, whereby said opening device may be supported by members outside of the tube and held from movement with the tube.

5. A'fabric tube opening device comprising a supporting head, a rod depending from said head, opening rolls carried at the lower end of said rod for engaging and initially opening the tube, arms mounted adtube, yielding arms' last named arms outwardly against the walls of the tube.

6. A fabric tube opening device comprising a supporting head, a rod depending from said head, opening rolls carried at the lower end of said rod for engaging and initially opening the tube, arms mounted ad- .jacent the lower-end of the rod and extending upwardly therefrom for engaging and separating the walls ofcthe tube, an

arms connected with the central'head and Y projecting upwardly therefrom for further separating the tube and holding the same flat, springs for normally forcing said lastv named arms outwardly against the, walls of the tube, and means for varying the tension lot-said springs.

3 Q7. Afabric tube opening device compris .in'gga "supporting head, a rod depending from said head, opening rolls carried at the slower end of said rod for engaging andinitially opening the tube, arms mounted adjacent the lower end of the rod for separating the walls of the tube, and arms connected with the central head and projecting upwardly therefrom for further separating the tube and holding the same fiat, springs for normally forcing said last named arms outwardly against the Walls of the tube, means for varying the tension of said springs,

spacecli'olls carried by said central head, and rollers engaging the outer fz ee of the tube and coiiperating with the spaced rolls 0n the central head, whereby'i-said opening device is supported antl' heldfrom "longitudinal movement with thetube. 

